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Snatch the princess

Posted by ESC on November 27, 2003

In Reply to: Snatch the princess posted by Bob on November 27, 2003

: : : Hello:
: : : Long time since I've been here:
: : : Do you know if this expression has any idiomatic meaning: "snatch the princess".
: : : The context: Someone offers a couple help without charging them, and the husband says "she won't take our money, she won't steal our souls and she won't snatch the princess".
: : : My very thanks to you all
: : : Miri

: : I've never heard "snatch the princess." I was thinking it might be a fairy tale reference. But, then again, could it be a reference to a computer game? I'm not up on that and my kids are still asleep. Does anyone know?

: Mysterious to me, too. More context?

I googled the phrase and came up with several sites including a review of Gandalf the Sorcerer:

"Suppose you're a troll, or some other kind of fantasy monster, and you and your tribe decide to capture a princess from a nearby castle. Sure, it is heavily fortified, but you are muscular creatures, and together you will surely be able to force open the gate. So essentially it's a simple matter of reaching the castle, smashing the gate, taking the princess and getting back out...right?"

I think I'm entering a pop culture blackout period. (Did I just coin a phrase?) My children are near-grown and away from home and grandchildren are (I am assuming) in the not-so-near future. I don't have young people to keep me informed.

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